- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,242,477
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
UConn and St. John’s have combined to win the last three Big East regular-season and tournament titles as the Dan Hurley-Rick Pitino rivalry has taken center stage.
Heading into the 2026-27 campaign, many prognosticators, including Bart Torvik and Jeff Goodman, have UConn and St. John’s 1-2 again.
But Pitino, whose teams have won the last two Big East regular season and tournament titles, says not so fast.
“Connecticut and St. John’s are not the favorites,” Pitino told NJ.com this week.
“If I had to pick, I’d pick Marquette one.”
Pitino, the Naismith Hall of Famer who has led six programs to the NCAA Tournament, pointed out that Marquette returns Nigel James Jr., an All-Big East Third-Team selection who averaged 16.4 points and 4.9 assists, along with forward Royce Parham (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and guard Adrien Stevens (7.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg).
Torvik had Villanova third and Marquette fourth, while Goodman had Marquette third, followed by Xavier and Villanova.
However you slice it, it’s hard not pick Hurley’s Huskies as the preseason favorite. UConn did reach the NCAA championship game for the third time in four years last season, and despite losing Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. to the NBA, the Huskies return guards Braylon Mullins (he of “The Shot” fame) and All-Big East First Teamer Silas Demary Jr. and also added Duke transfer wing Nik Khamenia and Seton Hall transfer big man Najai Hines.
However it shakes out, Pitino believes the Big East could get as many as six teams in the NCAA Tournament in 2027 after placing just three teams in the Field of 68 in two of the last three years.
“Marquette, Xavier, Providence and Villanova will be right there (along with UConn and St. John’s),” Pitino said.
The Athletic recently reported that Big East teams are expected to spend an average of $14.5 million on NIL this season, second only to the SEC’s $18 million.
“Marquette, Providence, Xavier, Connecticut, St. John’s and probably Georgetown have all spent probably more than that,” Pitino said of the $14.5M figure.
At St. John’s, where associate head coach Steve Masiello has now assumed GM duties, two players are making more than $10 million combined: Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou ($6M) and British point guard Quinn Ellis (north of $4M).
MORE BY ADAM ZAGORIA
Potential Yankees trade chip comments on rumors: ‘Nothing’s done until it’s done’Jul. 29, 2026, 11:15 a.m.
Yankees eyeing reunion with former pitcher at trade deadlineJul. 29, 2026, 11:49 a.m.
Pitino believes the higher overall NIL numbers in the Big East will translate into more teams going dancing in March.
“I think what it does is, it makes it much more of a competitive league,” he said.
“I think we’re going to get six teams in this year.”
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Continue reading...
